The IBCA/IndyStar.com All-Star series is growing again. We had our largest crowd in the last six years in the senior doubleheader against Kentucky at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in June 2013.
With the IBCA teaming with Rob New and his Best Choice Fieldhouse, we are drawing a good crowd and providing much-needed financial contributions to Indiana National Guard families, the IBCA Scholarship Fund and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
The generosity of The Indianapolis Star, the Indiana Pacers, Shepherd Insurance, Methodist Sports Medicine, Lids Team Sports, Marian University and many countless individuals has put us on solid footing going forward.
Our 12 coaches gave a lot of their talent, time and effort and represented their brethren with class. Scott Heady, Kevin Leising, Brent Dalrymple, Brent Chitty, Brad Dickey and Ryan Bales were great with our 2013 Senior and Junior boys. Mark Hurt, Juanita Goodwell, Julie Meeks, Michelle Harter, Tod Windlan and Jared Peterson were awesome with our young ladies.
With the help of Rob New and Best Choice Fieldhouse along with Ben Davis High School, Steve Witty and multiple IBCA reps, we were able to almost double our Game Day Shootout to 84 varsity and middle school teams.
Walt Raines at Franklin is going to help us put on a “Game Day Elementary-School Shootout” in 2014. This elementary shootout, added to the existing high school and middle school events, will give us about 125 teams between the ages of 8-18 playing basketball on All-Star game day and attending the All-Star games that evening.
I could go on and on about the good things that are happening with the All-Star Series.
Since the IBCA under Steve Witty has taken control, we have been able to grow the games with new ideas and efforts of our membership. Pat McKee, Mike Broughton, Renee Turpa, Joe Bradburn, Ron Hecklinski, Pat Strong, Kathie Layden, Ken Kaufman, Steve Downing, Amy Govert, Melissa Marlow, Randy Shields and Chris May are just some of the people who have given their time and efforts to seeing the games thrive again.
The best indicator of the overall health of the series is the fact that I cannot thank everyone or go into all the new things we are doing in this one article.
We all are looking forward to seeing you at the 2014 games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Thanks again, and beat Kentucky!
-- Charlie Hall
